Colman, who won supporting actress for Accused and female
performance in a comedy for Twenty Twelve, left just after 10pm
before the after-party Royal Festival Hall was even in full
swing.

Smith, who won leading actress for Mrs Biggs, stayed until
midnight but avoided the champagne.

Despite the accolades, both admitted they still had self-doubt
over their work.

Smith, 31, told the Standard: "I'm such an emotional wreck. I’m
doing a drama with Olivia Colman, who’s just won two, called The
7.39, with David Morrissey. I start filming at 6am so I can't party
too much.

"I can't really explain the self-doubt that I’m filled with
daily. That's why the Mrs Biggs lot were so supportive. I had
meltdowns on the set quite a lot, going, 'Oh s**t, just recast, I'm
awful, I’m going to let you all down.'"

Colman, 39, said: "I can't believe it. I keep thinking it's
wrong. I feel very wobbly. Hollywood hasn't called, unless they
have got a digit wrong. Of course I would go if they asked. It's
warm and they pay better."

Michael Palin, who received the highest accolade of the night,
the fellowship, admitted backstage: "I think if you pitched Monty
Python to the BBC now … they wouldn't have accepted it on the terms
we offered. It may well be that it would have gone out on a smaller
satellite channel."

Ben Whishaw, who won leading actor category for Richard II,
called for more Shakespeare on television.